Aggregates Manager

August 2013

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 12 of 94

State &
Province
NEWS
To keep up to date with this
breakdown of news in the
United States and Canada, visit
www.AggMan.com for daily updates.
by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief
tdunphy@randallreilly.com
Florida
Martin Marietta partnered with the Onslow County Public Library to hold
the 'Be a Rock Star' program. JDNews.com reports that the program was
open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Company representatives explained how rocks form and how they are used. Samples of rocks
and fossils were also displayed. The program was held at the main library
and two branches over three dates throughout the summer.
Florida
The Miami-Dade Aviation Department's plan to ﬁnd a contractor to mine 422 acres at the
now-closed Opalocka West General Aviation Airport as a way to help cover the cost of the
Miami International Airport expansion hit some turbulence when it issued a bid notice. Terms
drew protests from local aggregate producers, according to MiamiTodayNews.com, and several
changes are being proposed. These include a change from lowest bid to negotiations that would
consider factors other than price; the transportation department and county would negotiate
price payment rather than keep all revenue excluding the mining company's costs; and, while
the operator would have to "make reasonable efforts" to conﬁne limestone sales to MiamiDade, Broward, and Monroe counties, sales within those counties would not be mandatory.
Illinois
The Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) will host its annual
golf outing and dinner on Aug. 26, at the Panther Creek Country Club
and Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield. The $60 ticket price covers green
fees, cart rental, cocktails, and dinner. Half of the ticket price will support
the IAAP Political Action Committee, while the other half will support the
IAAP Illinois Teachers Workshop. Contact IAAP office manager Glenda
Schoening at 217-241-1639 to register.
Indiana
Some residents of Tippecanoe County told WLFI they are upset about the
prospect of a quarry near their homes. The television news outlet reports
that Bill Miller, who lives across the street from the proposed site, began
collecting signatures on a petition to be given to the Department of Natural
Resources. He noted concerns about water quality, blasting, and wildlife.
"To meet the growing construction needs of the area, Rogers Group is
exploring options for a new quarry near Americus," Rogers spokesperson
Tom Kenley said. "As always, we will work closely with elected officials to
see that regulations and requirements are met. We also plan to meet directly
with those in the neighborhood to address any concerns."
Kansas
Douglas County Commissioners are being asked to put
stricter limits on N.R. Hamm, Inc.'s Hamm-Buchheim
Quarry following recently resumed activity at the site.
According to LJWorld.com, a January blast registered
0.565 peak particle velocity on seismic monitors at a
neighboring residence. The operation's conditional-use
permit calls for annual reviews, but none were conducted when the site was inactive. In October 2012, it
resumed operations.
Maine
At Aggregates Manager press time, a proposed
quarry permitting ordinance was expected to
be put to a vote during a Mount Desert town
meeting. Fenceviewer.com reports the ordinance
was created by a special citizen's advisory committee. The town had a moratorium on quarrying as the ordinance was being developed.
More than 55 people attended the first review
of the ordinance, with several residents speaking out in favor of allowing quarrying.
New Jersey
Millington Quarry Inc.'s reclamation plans are generating lots of opinions, but little discussion, according to
newjerseyhills.com. It reports that the operator and its
predecessor previously imported fill soil to pad the site,
but some soil was found to include contaminants. Bernards Township ordered it to stop importing soil, and
the operator sued, but the litigation has been on hold as
reclamation plans are being reviewed. Meanwhile, the
township planning board, after 17 hearings of expert
testimony, approved an interim reclamation plan that
would not allow imported soil to cover acreage intended
for residential development. Finally, because the objections were outlined in a letter, rather than voiced directly, the township attorney advised the township committee "not to place any reliance" on its letter because it
didn't follow proper procedure. The planning board was
expected to review the environmental commission's letter in a closed session with its attorney.
AGGREGATES MANAGER August 2013
StateNews_AGRM0813.indd 11
11
7/17/13 1:57 PM